Building-integrated system for capturing and harvesting the energy from environmental wind

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed for capturing and harnessing energy from environmental wind which impinges the outer wall surfaces of a building. The system includes at least one elongated conduit disposed within an enclosure of a building, the conduit having first and second end portions opening to the building outer wall surfaces. A wind deflector mechanism is disposed at each of the first and second conduit end portions. Each such wind deflector mechanism is adapted to direct environmental wind, which impinges against the building outer wall surface proximate the end portion, into the conduit to provide bi-directional air flow passing through the conduit. At least one wind collector device is disposed within the conduit, and the wind collector has air impact elements mounted to a shaft. Each wind collector device is adapted to interact with the bi-directional air flow moving within the conduit originating from either first or second conduit end portions to rotate the wind collector shaft. Finally, a wind turbine device is disposed within the building and is operatively interconnected to the wind collector shaft to generate electricity from the rotation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to devices for converting windenergy to electrical energy and, more particularly, to systems utilizingwind driven turbine generators. Specifically, the present inventionrelates to systems integrated into buildings which are adapted tocapture environmental wind impacting the building and harness its energyfor use in generating the power requirements for that building.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the last several decades, considerable attention has been given tonon-petroleum forms of energy generation and in particular to renewableforms of energy. Such renewable energy sources include biomassconversion systems, passive and active solar energy devices, and windenergy driven systems. Wind driven turbines and windmills have been usedfor centuries to capture energy and generate power. There have beenconstant efforts to increase the efficiency of and hence the energyproduction from wind turbines. However, to date it has been verydifficult to generate significant energy from wind sources due toinefficiencies of wind turbine devices as well as the lack of prevalentwinds on a consistent basis in many geographical locations.

Wind power is one of the most promising and cost-effective renewableenergy technologies available today. One advantage of wind power is thateven though it is intermittent, it blows both day and night. All 50 U.S.states have sufficient wind to justify wind power turbines. One problemwith the present standard wind turbine is that it needs to be locatedaway from populous areas. This is due to the fact that homeowners to notwant large blades spinning in their backyards over their heads. Suchdevices are expensive, large, loud, kill birds and somehow seemdangerous.

Windmill systems utilize wind driven generators having blades that areturned and powered by the passing of airflow from the wind. The firstsuccessful attempt in the United States at producing electric power tofeed a utility network using large-scale windmills was in Vermont whichsystem utilized a two-bladed windmill mounted on a 150-foot tower. The175-foot blades were pitch controlled and drove an AC alternator atconstant speed. Other examples of such systems utilizing manylarge-scale windmills can be found in Wyoming and California.Additionally, there have been attempts to erect windmill towers or othercentral-type power generation systems such as illustrated in U.S. Pat.No. 969,587 and No. 4,321,476.

Other examples include attempts to incorporate such wind energy systemspositioned adjacent large building structures for purposes of creatingthe necessary power from wind to heat and/or cool such structures, suchas illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,596 and No. 6,097,104. Suchsystems require that the building structure itself be designed aroundthe wind generation system, thus affecting and limiting the size andshape of such buildings. Moreover, solar power generators are oftencoupled with these wind systems since they are not designed to maximizeuse and capture of wind energy.

Finally, individual residential residences and commercial structureshave been modified to incorporate wind and solar energy power systemssuch as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,016 and No. 6,765,309 inorder to generate power for a specific residential or commercialbuilding. Again, a common problem with such systems is the lack ofconsistent prevalent winds to power the windmill or auger blades.Moreover, significant noise problems can be created by windmill towersin residential neighborhoods as well as unsightly mechanical devices orcollectors projecting from the exterior of these structures.

While some of these devices have proven to be effective in convertingwind energy to electrical energy, there remains a need for systems whichincorporate such wind turbine devices for use in areas where constantprevalent winds may not necessarily be present as well as systems whichare adapted for use by individual buildings, including multi-storycommercial buildings, for their own power needs. Therefore, thereremains a need in the art for such a system or arrangement, and thepresent invention addresses and solves this particular problem in theart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide asystem for capturing and harnessing wind energy efficiently fromenvironmental wind.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a systemthat can effectively capture and convert such wind energy as it impactsany of the various exterior surfaces of a building regardless of thedirection from which the wind may originate.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system forproviding the power needs of a commercial building from wind energyimpinging the exterior surfaces of the building wherein such system isintegrated into the building structure itself without creating exteriorobjects projecting form the building.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system forheating and cooling a commercial multi-story building by incorporatingwind energy conversion systems into the duct work inbetween floors ofthe building so as to be autonomous from the surrounding city power gridwithout having to add exterior structures to the building design itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wind energy conversionsystem for heating and cooling a commercial multi-story building byincorporating the energy conversion systems into the areas inbetweenfloors of the building utilizing space which is presently substantiallywasted or inefficient in use.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with thepurpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly describedherein, a system is disclosed for capturing and harnessing energy fromenvironmental wind which impinges the outer wall surfaces of a building.The system includes at least one elongated conduit disposed within anenclosure of a building, the conduit having first and second endportions opening to the building outer wall surfaces. A wind deflectormechanism is disposed at each of the first and second conduit endportions. Each such wind deflector mechanism is adapted to directenvironmental wind, which impinges against the building outer wallsurface proximate the end portion, into the conduit to providebi-directional air flow passing through the conduit. At least one windcollector device is disposed within the conduit, and the wind collectorhas air impact elements mounted to a shaft. Each wind collector deviceis adapted to interact with the bi-directional air flow moving withinthe conduit originating from either first or second conduit end portionsto rotate the wind collector shaft. Finally, a wind turbine device isdisposed within the building and is operatively interconnected to thewind collector shaft to generate electricity from the rotation thereof.

In one modification of the invention, each wind deflector mechanismincludes air inlet elements which are adapted to capture environmentalwind originating from one or more directions exterior to the outersurface of said building at the conduit end portion, and to deflect thecaptured wind into the conduit to create an axial airflow therein, theair inlet elements of the opposite conduit end portion being adapted toexhaust the axial airflow after passing through the conduit.

In modification of this invention, the system further includes venturielements disposed within the conduit which are adapted for acceleratingair flow into the conduit. In one form of this, the venturi elements arepivotally mounted within the conduit between an inward orientationadapted to accelerate wind directed into the conduit by the deflectormechanism, and an outward orientation adapted to permit wind to freelyexit the conduit.

In yet another modification, each wind turbine device includes agenerator which is adapted to provide electric energy for purposes ofpowering the heating and cooling systems of the building, the generatorbeing disposed proximate to the conduit.

In one form of this modification, the system includes a plurality of theconduits disposed within a building, with the wind collectors and windturbine devices thereof being adapted to all provide electric energy topower the heating and cooling systems of the building. In one aspect ofthis, a plurality of the conduits are aligned substantially parallelwith each other and disposed between adjacent floors of the building.

In still another modification of the invention, the system includes aplurality of such conduits, wherein the building enclosing theseconduits includes a plurality of outer wall surfaces with the conduitsbeing aligned such that each building wall surface includes at least oneconduit end portion with its wind deflector mechanism exposed to theenvironmental wind impinging the building outer wall surface proximatethereto.

In another modification of the invention, a building-integrated systemis disclosed for providing power needs of a building generated from windenergy impacting the exterior surfaces of the building. The systemincludes at least one elongated substantially hollow airflow conduithaving first and second end portions and which extends through thebuilding between opposite outer wall surfaces of thereof. A winddeflector mechanism is disposed at each conduit end portion. Each winddeflector mechanism has omni-directional air inlet elements adapted tocapture environmental wind originating from plural compass directionsand impacting the building exterior surface proximate the end portion,the air inlet elements deflecting captured wind into the conduit tocreate a substantially axial airflow therein. Airflow turbulence controlelements are disposed within the conduit to create substantially laminarairflow along the length thereof. A plurality of wind collector devicesare disposed within the conduit with each having air impact elementsmounted to a shaft. Each wind collector is adapted to interact with theaxial airflow moving within the conduit originating from either thefirst or second conduit end portions to rotate the wind collectorshafts. Finally, a wind turbine device is disposed within the buildingand is operatively connected to the wind collector shafts to generateelectricity from the rotation thereof.

Yet another modification includes a system for providing energy to heatand cool a multi-story building by capturing the energy from windimpinging the exterior surfaces of the building. The system includes aplurality of elongated airflow conduits extending through the buildingbetween opposite exterior wall surfaces thereof. The conduits aredisposed between adjacent floors of the multi-story building with eachconduit having first and second end portions open to the buildingexterior wall surfaces. A wind deflector mechanism, in the form of aplurality of air inlet elements, is disposed at each conduit end portionand is adapted to capture environmental wind impacting the buildingexterior surface proximate the end portion. The air inlet elementsdeflect captured wind into the conduit to create a substantially axialairflow therein. Airflow turbulence control elements are disposed withinthe conduit to create substantially laminar airflow along the lengththereof. At least one wind collector device is disposed within eachconduit with each wind collector device having air impact membersmounted to a shaft for interacting with the axial airflow moving withinthe conduit originating from either first or second conduit end portionsto rotate the wind collector shafts. At least one wind turbine device isdisposed proximate the conduit and is operatively interconnected withthe wind collector shafts for generating electricity therefrom for usein heating and cooling the airspace in rooms located in adjacent floorsof the multi-story building. Finally, an airflow direction sensingelement is disposed within each conduit for determining the direction ofthe axial airflow within the conduit based on the direction ofenvironmental wind impacting the building exterior surfaces, the sensingelement opening the air inlet elements at the first and second endportions accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part ofthe specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the presentinvention and, together with a description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a multi-story commercial buildingincorporating the present invention therein;

FIG. 2 is a side schematic illustration of one conduit embodimentconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of theinvention but illustrating a plurality of conduits disposed along onebuilding level;

FIG. 4 is a detailed alternate schematic of an embodiment of theinvention with the wind impacting one wall surface of a buildingstructure;

FIG. 5 is a detailed schematic similar to that of FIG. 4 butillustrating the wind originating from an opposite direction relative tothe exterior surfaces of a building;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic illustration of an embodiment asconstructed in accordance with the present invention and illustratingwind collectors which may be utilized in the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of yet another embodiment asconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top sectional schematic of yet another embodiment of thepresent invention incorporated into the building design of a commercialbuilding structure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic of another embodiment constructed in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic of still another embodiment similar to that ofFIG. 9 as constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, a multi-story commercial building 10 isillustrated with a plurality of ducts or conduits 12 enclosed therein.It should be understood that the present invention may be used with anytype of residential or commercial building, single or multi-story, forthe purposes of providing energy for heating or cooling thereof bycapturing and converting the energy from environmental wind impingingupon the exterior surfaces 14 of such structure. When there is aprevailing wind direction relative to the building's design ororientation, then the components of the invention may be oriented anddesigned relative to the building exterior wall surfaces in a mannerdifferent from situations where the wind is frequentlymulti-directional, although the present invention may be efficientlyapplied and utilized in any such situations.

More specifically, the invention includes at least one such conduit 12disposed within a building structure. Each conduit 12 preferablyincludes two end portions 16, 18 which open to opposite building wallsurfaces 20, 22, respectively. The conduits 12 preferably include winddeflector mechanisms 24 at each end portion 16, 18 thereof or thepurpose of directing environmental wind impinging against the buildingouter wall surfaces 20, 22 proximate said end portions 16, 18 into saidconduit 12 to provide axial air flow passing through said conduit ineither direction depending on the prevailing winds impinging thebuilding 10. In one illustrated embodiment, the wind direction 26 causesthe axial low to move from end portions 16 to 18, while the winddirection 28 causes the axial air flow in the conduit 12 to move in theopposite direction from end portion 18 to 16 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The wind deflector 24 may be constructed in any desired form toaccomplish the desired purpose. In one preferred embodiment, themechanism 24 is in the form of a pair of pivotally mounted louver fins30, 32 at the first end portion 16 and a pair of pivotally louver fins34, 36 at the second end portion 18. When the wind direction is as shownby the arrow 26, the louvers 30, 32 open inwardly into the conduit 12 soas to form a venturi channel 38 to assist in directing wind into theconduit 12 as well as accelerate and control turbulence of the axialairflow therein. The louvers 34, 36 are forced outwardly away from theconduit 12 so as to permit the air flow to more readily exit the conduit12 at the exterior surface 22. When the prevailing winds are in thedirection illustrated by the arrow 28, then the louvers 32, 34 openoutwardly and the louvers 34, 36 open inwardly. Thus, the laminarairflow created within the conduit 12 may be bi-directional depending onthe winds impinging the building exterior surfaces. In addition, asillustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of pivotal airflow turbulence controlelements 39 may be spaced along the interior of the conduit 12 to assistin creating the laminar flow therein.

At least one and preferably a plurality of wind collectors 40 aredisposed in the conduits 12 so as to project into the path of thelaminar airflow created therein. While the wind collectors 40 may be ofany desired design, they each preferably include a plurality of windimpact elements or propellers 42. In one preferred embodiment asillustrated in FIG. 6, the wind collectors 40 are in the form ofhelically shaped blades 46 mounted to a shaft 48 and alignedsubstantially vertically within the conduit 12 relative to the airflowtherein. In this manner, the wind collectors 40 may be rotated alongtheir shafts 48 regardless of the direction of the airflow within theconduit 12. The shafts of the collectors 40 are then operativelyinterconnected to generator devices 50, as known in the art, so as tocreate wind generators.

The generators 50 create electrical energy that is then used directly inthe heating and cooling systems 52 of the building housing the conduit.Should the building needs be such that the generators are creating moreenergy then is needed at any one particular time, then the excess energymay be preferably stored in one or more storage batteries 54 for use atlater times when needed. In addition, should the energy storage or thebatteries or cells 54 be at capacity, then the added excess energy maybe directed back into the electric grid 56 for payment by the utilityindustry. It should be understood that the generators 50 may be disposedproximate the conduits 12 or they may be positioned remotely in thebasement of the building 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In one preferred form of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, theconduits 12 are preferably aligned substantially parallel and adjacentto each other in the ductwork between floors of the building 10. In thismanner a substantial number of wind collectors and associated generatorsmay be operatively interconnected to generate substantial amounts ofelectrical energy without any noticeable units or hardware projectingoutwardly of the building's exterior as is the case of many prior artdesigns. This design also permits efficient use of the duct space thattypically exists between floors in multi-story building structures. Inthe instance where the prevailing environmental wind is substantiallyuniform from one direction, then the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1is most efficient. However, in those instances where the wind mayoriginate from any number of differing directions, as is often the casein windy cities such as Chicago and Seattle, the design of FIG. 7 isoptimal.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7, an assembly 60 of conduits 12 may beinterposed between adjacent floors of a multi-story building 62. In thisarrangement, the assembly 60 includes a first set 64 of substantiallyparallel conduits 12 mounted next to each other and aligned to open ontoopposite building wall surfaces 66, 68, while a second set 70 of similarsubstantially parallel conduits 12 are disposed immediately above thefirst set 64 of conduits 12. The second set of conduits are oriented toand aligned to open onto opposite building wall surfaces 72, 74. In thismanner, regardless of the direction of the environmental winds, theconduit assembly 60 may capture and convert the energy thereof for usein operating the energy needs of the building 62. Moreover, thisarrangement may also include a plurality of such assemblies with onebeing disposed between each set of adjacent floors of the building 62.

Referring now to FIG. 8, another embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. In this embodiment, a building 76 includes a plurality ofconduits 12′ opening to each of the exterior wall surfaces 78, 80, 82and 84. In this arrangement, the conduits 12′ are disposed betweenfloors of the building 76 and operate similar to the above describedconduits 12′. However, in this embodiment the conduits 12′ all open intoa central area 86 wherein the wind collectors 40 are disposed. In thismanner, any wind impinging the walls 78-84 is directed into the conduits12′ in the form of airflow into the central area 86 to operate the windcollectors 40 and their associated wind generator systems 50, previouslydescribed. The airflow may exit from the central area 86 along any routewhich is not receiving input airflow, since there will be a reduced airpressure along the end portions of the conduits 12′ which are notreceiving impacted environmental wind.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, yet another embodiment of the inventionis illustrated. In this embodiment, the conduits 12 operate as in theprevious embodiments. In these embodiments, however, flow detectionsensors 88 are provided to determine the direction of the laminarairflow within the conduit 12 and whether there is even any airflow atall. When there is an absence of airflow in the conduits 12 due to alack of environment wind, an impeller device 90 is operated from anoutside power source or from stored battery energy to draw air throughthe conduit 12 and past an air cooling mechanism 92 or an air heatingmechanism 94 to provide, respectively, cooled or heated air to the rooms96 of the floor adjacent to the conduit 12. A return duct 98interconnects the rooms 96 with the conduit 12 such that axial airflowwithin the conduit 12 created by natural wind impact or the impellermechanism 90 creates a low pressure center to circulate air out from therooms 96 and through the conduits 12 to exit the building.

The concept of the present invention is particularly useful forinstallation in average single-family homes or in use with commercialmulti-story buildings. In any of the described embodiments, the presentinvention takes up virtually no ground space and can be integrated intonew building designs without utilizing significant work space. Thesedevices of the invention can also be constructed to blend in more withthe environment and building structures. In preferred form, theinvention is omni-directional in that it has a 360-degree view ofenvironmental wind impacting the exterior building surfaces andtherefore can handle wind from any one direction or from multipledirections. The interior airflow feature of the invention allows it tohandle high winds without any negative effect and can in fact workeffectively and efficiently in high wind areas. It can also handlesubstantial wind gusts and has an airflow anti-turbulence feature whichfurther increases the performance of the invention.

As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a systemfor capturing and harnessing environmental wind energy in an effectiveand efficient manner. The present invention eliminates prior artunsightly and noisy windmill systems or building augmentationarrangements previously used. Moreover, the present invention provides asystem that is adaptable for use with individual residential structuresor multi-story commercial building structures and may be integrated intoa new structure or added onto an existing structure without significantloss of work space. The device of the invention is designed to operateeven at times of high, gusty winds unlike some prior wind power deviceswhich automatically shut down during such situations. Additionally, thepresent invention is designed to be easily maintained. Finally, thepresent invention provides an efficient, inexpensive and practicalalternative for generating energy from a renewable energy resource whileproviding substantially all of the energy needs of a buildingimmediately or from storage.

The foregoing description and the illustrative embodiments of thepresent invention have been described in detail in varying modificationsand alternate embodiments. It should be understood, however, that theforegoing description of the present invention is exemplary only, andthat the scope of the present invention is to be limited to the claimsas interpreted in view of the prior art. Moreover, the inventionillustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absenceof any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

1. A system for capturing and harnessing energy from environmental windwhich impinges the outer wall surfaces of a building, said systemcomprising: at least one elongated conduit disposed within an enclosureof a building, said conduit having first and second end portions openingto the building outer wall surfaces; a wind deflector mechanism disposedat each said first and second conduit end portion, each said winddeflector mechanism being adapted to direct environmental wind impingingagainst the building outer wall surface proximate said end portion intosaid conduit to provide bi-directional air flow passing through saidconduit; at least one wind collector device disposed within said conduitand having air impact elements mounted to a shaft, each said windcollector device being adapted to interact with the bi-directional airflow moving within said conduit originating from either said first andsecond conduit end portions to rotate said wind collector shaft; and awind turbine device disposed within said building and operativelyinterconnected to said wind collector shaft to generate electricity fromthe rotation thereof.
 2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein eachsaid wind deflector mechanism associated with a conduit end portionincludes air inlet elements adapted to capture environmental windoriginating from one or more directions exterior to the outer surface ofsaid building at said conduit end portion, and to deflect the capturedwind into said conduit to create an axial airflow therein, the air inletelements of the opposite conduit end portion being adapted to exhaustsaid axial airflow after passing through said conduit.
 3. The system asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said system further comprises venturielements disposed within said conduit and adapted for accelerating airflow into said conduit.
 4. The system as claimed in claim 3, whereinsaid venturi elements are pivotally mounted within said conduit betweenan inward orientation adapted to accelerate wind directed into saidconduit by said deflector mechanism, and an outward orientation adaptedto permit wind to freely exit said conduit.
 5. The system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each said wind turbine device comprises a generatoradapted to provide electric energy to power heating and cooling systemsof said building, said generator being disposed proximate said conduit.6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said system comprises aplurality of said conduits disposed within a building, the windcollectors and wind turbine devices thereof being adapted to all provideelectric energy to power heating and cooling systems of said building.7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said system comprises aplurality of said conduits aligned substantially parallel with eachother and disposed between adjacent floors of said building.
 8. Thesystem as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system comprises a pluralityof said conduits, wherein the building enclosing said conduit includes aplurality of outer wall surfaces, and wherein said conduits are alignedsuch that each building wall surface includes at least one conduit endportion with its wind deflector mechanism exposed to the environmentalwind impinging the building outer wall surface proximate thereto.
 9. Abuilding-integrated system for providing power needs of a buildinggenerated from wind energy impacting the exterior surfaces of thebuilding, said system comprising: at least one elongated substantiallyhollow airflow conduit having first and second end portions andextending through said building between opposite outer wall surfaces ofthereof; a wind deflector mechanism disposed at each conduit endportion, each said wind deflector mechanism having omni-directional airinlet elements adapted to capture environmental wind originating fromplural compass directions and impacting the building exterior surfaceproximate said end portion, said air inlet elements deflecting capturedwind into said conduit to create a substantially axial airflow therein;airflow turbulence control elements disposed within said conduit tocreate substantially laminar airflow along the length thereof; aplurality of wind collector devices disposed within said conduit eachhaving air impact elements mounted to a shaft, each said wind collectorbeing adapted to interact with the axial airflow moving within saidconduit originating from either said first and second conduit endportions to rotate said wind collector shafts; and a wind turbine devicedisposed within said building and operatively connected to said windcollector shafts to generate electricity from the rotation thereof. 10.The building-integrated system as claimed in claim 9, wherein saidairflow turbulence control elements comprise a plurality of pivotallymounted louver fins disposed across each said conduit end portion tocontrol the flow of wind into and out of said conduit end portion, saidlouver fins being mounted to move between a first position wherein saidfins angulate inwardly into said conduit to form a venturi to accelerateairflow when wind is impacting the exterior building wall surfacesproximate said end portion, and a second position wherein said finsangulate outwardly from said conduit toward an end portion opening toassist in exiting airflow from said conduit through the end portionopposite that wherein the wind is impacting the exterior building wallsurfaces.
 11. The building-integrated system as claimed in claim 10,wherein said conduit includes an airflow direction sensing elementdisposed in said conduit for assisting in said louver fins movementcontrol between said first and second positions.
 12. Thebuilding-integrated system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a sensingmember is mounted to said conduit end portions for detectingenvironmental wind direction and adjusting said wind deflector mechanismto the environmental wind airflow regardless of the direction from whichthe environmental wind airflow impacting the building exterior surfaceoriginates.
 13. The building-integrated system as claimed in claim 9,wherein system includes a plurality of said conduits disposed betweenadjacent floors of said building and extending between all oppositebuilding exterior wall surfaces.
 14. The building-integrated system asclaimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of conduits merge into acommon center area between adjacent floors within said building, saidplurality of wind collector devices being disposed within said commonarea adapted for rotation regardless of the direction of theenvironmental wind exterior to said building.
 15. A system for providingenergy to heat and cool a multi-story building by capturing the energyfrom wind impinging the exterior surfaces of the building, said systemcomprising: a plurality of elongated airflow conduits extending throughsaid building between opposite exterior wall surfaces thereof, saidconduits being disposed between adjacent floors of said multi-storybuilding with each conduit having first and second end portions open tosaid building exterior wall surfaces; a wind deflector mechanism in theform of a plurality of air inlet elements disposed at each conduit endportion and adapted to capture environmental wind impacting the buildingexterior surface proximate said end portion, said air inlet elementsdeflecting captured wind into said conduit to create a substantiallyaxial airflow therein; airflow turbulence control elements disposedwithin said conduit to create substantially laminar airflow along thelength thereof; at least one wind collector device disposed within eachsaid conduit, each wind collector device having air impact membersmounted to a shaft for interacting with the axial airflow moving withinsaid conduit originating from either said first and second conduit endportions to rotate said wind collector shafts; at least one wind turbinedevice disposed proximate said conduit operatively interconnected withsaid wind collector shafts for generating electricity therefrom for usein heating and cooling the airspace in rooms located in adjacent floorsof said multi-story building; and an airflow direction sensing elementdisposed within each said conduit for determining the direction of saidaxial airflow within said conduit based on the direction ofenvironmental wind impacting the building exterior surfaces, saidsensing element opening said air inlet elements at said first and secondend portions accordingly.
 16. The system as claimed in claim 15, whereinsaid system further includes an impeller apparatus for selectivelycreating axial airflow within each said conduit in the absence ofenvironmental wind impacting the building exterior wall surfaces. 17.The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said air inlet elements areadapted for movement between an intake position providing access to theinterior of said conduit by the presence of wind pressure against theexterior surfaces of said inlet elements, and an air exit position fordirecting airflow out of said conduit in response to airflow pressureagainst the interior surfaces of said inlet elements from within saidconduit.
 18. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the airspace ofrooms in said adjacent floors of said multi-story building areinterconnected with said adjacent conduits such that axial airflowwithin each said conduit creates a low pressure center to circulate airout from said rooms and through said conduits to exit said building. 19.The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said system includes meansfor storing energy generated in excess of immediate building heating andcooling needs.
 20. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein saidsystem comprises an assembly of conduits disposed between each pair ofadjacent building floors, each assembly of conduits comprising a firstset of substantially parallel conduits disposed immediately above asecond set of substantially parallel conduits, said second set ofconduits being substantially transversely aligned relative to said firstset of conduits such that all exterior wall surfaces of said buildinginclude conduit end openings between adjacent floors to captureenvironmental wind for energy generation purposes regardless of winddirection variations.